Wrench



P. YORK.

WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14, 1919.

1,361,130. Patented Dec. 7, 1920.

PATENT OFFICE.

PERCY YORK, 0F DULUTH, MINNESOTA.

WRENCH.

Application filed June 14,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, PERCY YORK, a citizen of Canada, but who have made application for citizenship in the United States of America, and a resident of Duluth, Minnesota, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in WVrenches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wrenches for turning nuts or bolts in places where the use of an ordinary wrench would not be convenient, and in some cases would not be possible.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved construction which will not only reduce the cost of manufacture, but

- which will also render the wrench more satisfactory and desirable in use, and whereby the wrench may be easily repaired.

To these and other useful ends the invention consists in matters hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wrench embodying the principles of the invention, showing the middle portion thereof broken away for convenience of illustration.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing a different side of the wrench.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the wrench equipped with the extension which is employed for certain purposes.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the extension rod.

Fig. 5 is a detail cross section on line 55 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a similar section on line 66 in Fig. 1.

ig. 7 is a similar section on line 7-7 in Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 shows another form of the inven tion.

Fig. Fig. 8.

As thus illustrated, the invention comprises a long straight rod 1, of steel or any other suitable metal. A metal head 2, preferably shaped as shown, is secured to one end of said rod by a transverse key pin 3 inserted through both the rod and the head, this key pin being of less diameter than the rod. The handle is formed by a straight rod 4 which extends transversely through the head 2, and through the rod 1, so that this rod 4 extends at opposite sides of the 9 is a cross section on line 9-9 in Specification of Letters I'atent.

Patented Dec. '7, 1920. 1919. Serial No. 304,217.

head 2, and which has one end thereof bent at right angles to form a crank handle 5 by which to rapidly rotate the wrench without releasing or changing the grip of the hand. A bifurcated head 6, preferably of the form shown, is secured to the other end of the rod 1, its bifurcated end having the two ears 7 which are spaced apart the desired distance. A key pin 8, similar to the key pin 3, is inserted through the head 6 and the rod 1, so that the head is rigid with the rod. When inserted, the ends of the key pins 3 and 8 are cut oil and finished up flush with the sides of the two heads, so that from one end to the other the wrench has no corners or lateral projections which could catch on anything or interfere with its use. Both heads are bored longitudinally as indicated, to receive the rod 1 of the wrench. 4

The socket piece 9 is cylindric, having the same diameter as the head 6, (by which is meant thatthe two heads are equal or substantially equal in diameter,) and is provided with a socket opening 10 to receive.

the nut or bolt head. This socket piece 9 is bifurcated, having ears l1-11, which are spaced apart the desired distance. The

universal joint block 12 is adapted to fit snugly between the ears 7 and also between the ears 11, and is bored at right angles to receive the pivot pins 13 and 14, the pin 13 being fixed in the ears 7, and the pin 14 being fixed in the ears 11, and the ends of said pins being cut oif and finished up flush with the smooth outer sides of said ears. It will be seen that the block 12 is preferably as short as possible, and for this purpose the pivot pins 13 and 14 are arranged practically as close as possible together, whereby the universal joint is practically of the shortest possible length.

The pins 3 and 8, and also the pins 13 and 14, (which are all cylindric and straight), can be forced out when necessary in order to repair the wrench, or in order to substitute new parts for broken ones, and with the construction shown and described the wrench is easily repaired. Also, it can be inserted in narrow spaces, and used in places where it would not be possible to use an ordinary wrench. By means of the T-handle formed by the rod 4, the wrench can be forcibly rotated, when necessary, but at other times when the bolt or nut turns easily,'the wrench can be rapidly rotated by the crank handle 5 without the necessity of relaxing or even changing the grip of the hand on the handle. The construction is such that steel can be used for all of the parts, but the construction practically insures n aximum strength with minimum weight. The handle 4-, of course, can be forced out to permit removal of the head 2 from the rod 1, if this handle is inserted through the end of the rod 1, but the latter can be made shorter so that it will stop short of the said handle t, if such is necessary or desirable. The socket piece 9 is preferably as short as possible, in order to permit the insertion of the wrench in narrow or cramped places, and in this way the wrench is adapted for use in places where the ordinary wrench, or even those provided with universal joints, could not be used.

l l ith the heads 2 and 6 made separately and removably secured in place by the pins 3 and 8, it is obvious that these same heads can be used with rods of dii'lerent lengths in the manufacture of wrenches of different lengths. For some purposes a long wrench is necessary or desirable, while in other cases a much shorter wrench would serve the purpose and be desirable. Moreover, the long taper of the head 6 which extends a distance along the rod 1 provides a long sloping surface which avoids the formation o't abrupt shoulders, and which prevents the head of the wrench from catching when withdrawn from a machine or structure through which it may have been inserted for the purpose of tightening or loosening a nut or bolt. In fact, the entire formation oi the wrench is designed with special reference to preventing it from catching on any ot the parts of a machine or structure, and it has this advantage as well as others, and every part of the wrench is removable and replace able by a new part in case of breakage.

In order that the rod 1, which is readily removable from the head 6, by forcing out the key pin 8, may not twist or turn. in the head 6, said rod has a squared portion 15 which fits the square socket 16 in said head. In this way, the twisting or torsional. strain is not on the pin 8, but is sustained. by the square portion of the rod itself, and at the same time the head. is readily removable from the rod.

Furthermore, and in order that the wrench may be employed in situations where a single universal joint would not be suiiicient, an extension rod 1?,having a hexagonal head 19 at its upper end and a square portion 19 at its lower end, is provided. The hexagonal portion 18 will fit the socket 10 of the socket piece 9, and the square portion 19 will fit the head 6 of another universal joint, which latter is exactly like the one previously described. Thus, and as shown in Fig. 3, the wrench is extended or made longer, and is provided with two universal joints, so that nuts or bolts may be turned in situations where the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 would not be sut lcient. The two universal joints are of the same diamete and the entire structure is smooth and clean and free from obstructions or lateral projec tions which might catch on any portion of the automobile or other machine in connection with which it may be desirable to use the wrench.

As shown in Fig. 8, the pin 8 is omitted, and as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the head 6 has a set screw 21 which engagi-zs the square portion 15 of the rod 1, and by loosening this set screw the rod can be easily with drawn tom the head. In this way, the universal joints can be of different sizes, so that the socket pieces 9 will be oi diilerent diameters, thereby to engage nuts or bolts of difi erent sizes. A plurality of such universal joints, as many as desired, can be iurnished with each rod 1 and handle i so that the same rod and handle (an be used with an 1 ot the different universal joints, whereby the latter can be used interchangeably with one and the same handle, thereby adapting the wrench for use in connection with bolts and nuts 01' dii'lerent sizes.

FY0111 the foregoing it will be seen that a complete universal joint assembly is provided, comprising, for example, the head (5, socket piece 9, block 12 and pivots 11 and 13, this assembly forming a unitary mechanism which is separable from the end oi the 2 rod. In this way, therefore, when rods of different lengths are used, or when universal joint assemblies having socket pieces of difi'erent sizes are employed, each assembly will have a tapered head having a socket therein to receive a rod oi the desired length. Said rod may have a handle at one end thereof, as shown and described, or may have an enlarged head 18 which will lit the socket piece of another assembly, whereby various combinations can be obtained to meet the requirements of various situations.

The socket piece 9, it will be seen, is cylindric and shell-like in form, having a socket 110 which is adapted to receive the previously mentioned portion 18, which latter is as long as the socket, very obviously, so that the socket must extend tor the full length of the cylindric portion 01 said socket piece. Thus the socket piece, like the other elements, is adapted to be inexpensively manufactured from metal stock of different kinds, the walls of the socket piece being thick enough to provide the necessary strength to resist the torsional strains incident to the use of the wrench. V7 hat I claim as my invention is 1,. A wrench comprising a straight rod, a head fixed on one end of said rod, a transverse handle fixed on said head, a bifurcated head fixed on the other end of said rod, a transverse key pin extending through the rod and one head, a similar pin extending through the rod and the other head, so that either head is removable by forcing out its key pin, whereby rods of different lengths can be used with the same heads in the manufacture of wrenches of different lengths, and whereby a new head can be substituted for one that is broken, the ends of said pins being flush with the sides of the heads, and both heads being bored longitudinally to provide sockets to receive said rod, a pivot pin fixed in the end of the bifurcated head, a bifurcated socket piece of less length than the bifurcated head, formed to directly receive and engage the nut or bolt to be turned, a pivot pin fixed in the bifurcated portion of the socket piece, with the ends of said pivot pins flush with the sides of the bifurcated head and the socket piece, and a block bored at right angles to turn freely on said pivot pins, forming with said bifurcated head and socket piece a universal joint assembly which is removable as a unit from the end of said rod.

2. A wrench as specified in claim 1, said bifurcated head and said bifurcated socket piece being round in cross section and of the same diameter and smooth and flush ,on all sides thereof, the bifurcated head being gradually tapered back along the rod a distance to form a long taper, and said block being bored to leave only slight space between the two pivot pins, to reduce the block to minimum length.

3. A wrench as specified in claim 1, said handle being a straight rod fixed in the head and extending at opposite sides thereof and at right angles to the other rod, forming a rigid T-handle, and one end of said handle being bent at right angles to form a crank handle by which to rotate the wrench.

at. A wrench comprising a rod, a rigid handle on one end of said rod, a bifurcated head rigidly and removably fixed on the other end of said rod, the head being bored longitudinally to receive the rod, a bifurcated socket piece, a pivot pin fixed in said bifurcated head, a pivot pin fixed in the bifurcated socket piece, a block bored at right angles to turn freely on said pivot pins, with only slight space between the pins, forming with said bifurcated head and socket piece a universal joint assembly which is removable as a unit from the end of said red, the ends of said pins being flush with the smooth sides of said head and socket piece, and the head and socket piece being of the same diameter.

5. A wrench as specified in claim 4, and a key pin inserted through said head and rod, flush at its ends with the sides of the head, and adapted to be forced out to permit removal of the head from the rod.

6. In a wrench, a rod having a polygonal end portion, a tapered head having a socket to fit said end portion, means to removably hold the end portion in said socket, a handle connected to the other end of said rod, a socket piece, and a universal joint connection between said head and said socket piece, forming therewith a complete universal joint assembly which is removable from the end of said rod.

7. A structure as specified in claim 6, the said head and socket piece being of the same diameter, and formed to prevent catching on portions of an automobile or other machine in connection with which the wrench may be used, and said means comprising a set screw inserted through the side of the head to engage the fiat side of said polygonal portion of the rod.

8. In a Wrench, a rod provided with a polygonal end portion, a plurality of heads each having a socket to receive said end portion, with a socket piece and universal joint for each head, whereby the different socket pieces each form part of a complete universal joint assembly and are adapted to be used interchangeably with said rod, and a handle connected to the other end of said rod, each head having means for detachably holding the rod therein.

9. In a wrench, a rod, a fixed handle for one end of said rod, a socket piece to engage a nut or the end of a bolt, a head on the other end of said rod, a universal joint between the socket piece and said head, an extension rod having an enlarged head formed to fit said socket piece, and a second socket piece having a universal joint connection with the other end of the extension rod, so that two complete universal joint assemblies and two separate rods are interposed between the handle and the nut or bolt to be turned.

10. A structure as specified in claim 9, the extension rod having a polygonal end portion which is detachable from the universal joint by which it is connected to the second socket piece, so that said extension rod may be used in conjunction with socket pieces of different sizes.

11. A structure as specified in claim 9, said extension rod being detachable from its universal joint connection with the second socket piece, and said first mentioned rod being detachable from the head by which it is connected by the first mentioned universal joint to the socket piece thereof.

12. In a wrench, the combination of a member having a gradual taper in one direction, so that one end portion is frusto-conical, while the other end is bifurcated, the frusto-conical. portion being provided with a longitudinal recess, a block pivoted in the bifurcated end of said member, a socket piece pivoted on said block and adapted to engage a nut or the head of a bolt, said member and block and socket piece thus pivotally connected together forming a complete universal joint assembly, a rod inserted in the recess of said member, means to hold said rod in said member, and means on the other end of the rod for use in effecting rotation of the Wrench to turn the nut or bolt.

13. A structure as specified in claim 12, 10 said recess being polygonal in cross section, and said rod being shaped to fit said recess, and being removably held therein.

PERCY YORK. 

